Pressure-regulator



(No Model.)

L. B. FULTON.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 395,559. Patented Jan. 1 1889.

wi m wooao LOUIE-l ll. FULTON, OF 'PITTSBI RG, PENNSYLVANIA.

PRESSURE-*FiEGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,559, dated January 1, 1889.

Application tiled May 3, 1888 Serial No. 272,679 (No model.)

To aZZ 2071 am it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS l3. FULTON, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Pressure- Regulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and. exact description of the lllYOlllilOll,S1101 as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in pressure-regulators, and more particularly to the construction and arrangement of the valve and cut-cit mechanism for use in connection with the distribution of gas for general use.

The object is to provide a valve capable of effecting a maximum opening by a minimum amount of movement, and which at the same time shall be capalde of regulating the flow with the greatest: precision.

A further object is to provide an autmnatic cut-off in which the same weight which. is employed to hold the valve open against the pressure of the gas will assist to close l he valve when the pressure of the gas for any cause removed.

A further object is to proviiflc a valve and cut-off mechanism which shall be effective, simple, and d urablc, and well adapted to gen.- eral use lVith these ends in view my invention consists in. certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a presslire-regulator in vertical cen tral section, showing the valve in side elevation and partially broken away to show-its seat, the valve being in half-open adjustment. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the valve and its seat provided with only three annular rows of openings, the valve being represented in position to completely close the openings in the seat.

The valve-chamber A, across which the partition a extends and to which the valve-seat is secured; the pipe B, which leads from a gassupply (not shown) to the valve-chamber, and

the valve-chamber and provided with a diaphragm, r], in connection. with the valve, and having its portion above the diaphragm in communication with the low-pressure pipe through a branch pipe, I l, are preferably quite similar in their gent-wall cimsi'rnct ion and arrangement to corresponding parts shown and described in Letters Patent No. lilfhlOT, granted to me April it), 1336.

My present invention embraces the valve and the devices for balancin and operating it.

The val ve-seat an d valve consist, essentially, of an inner and outer shell having the form of frustums oi cones, the taper being very slight.

The valve-seat l? is conveniently provided with a screw-threaded top, 1, by means of which it is screwed into a corresponding threaded opening in the partition a. Its top f completely closed, and. its side walls are provided with one or more annular slots, f which extend entirely through the walls proper, the portions of the walls above and below each annular slot being held. together by longitudinal ribs f, which extend along the interior faces of: the walls. In practice the valve-seat is conwniently cast with the ribs on its interior and its side walls imperforate, and the annular slots f are then cut out the thickness of the walls proper, leaving a free opening to the interior of the seat, excepting where the ribs cross the slots.

The valve G is constructed to fit snugly on the seat F, and is provided with one or more annular slots, 9, which correspond in width with the slots f 3 in the valve'seat, but are so disposed that when the valve G closed down over the seat into contact therewith the solid wall of the valve will be opposite the slot or slots in the valveseat, and the slot or slots in the valve will be opposite the solid wall of the valve'seat, as shown in Fig. The portions of the valve above and below each slot are held together by longitudinal ribs g along the outside of the valve. In practice the valve is conveniently cast with its ribs 011 its eX- terior face and the annular slots 9 cut out from the inside, the thickness of the wall of the valve thereby leaving a free opening through the valve excepting where the ribs cross the slots.

The exterior face of the 'valve seat F and the interior face of the valve are fitted with the greatest nicety, so that a gas-tight closure is effected when the valve is in closed adjustment; but, because of the slight taper, the moment the valve is lifted ever so little there will no longer be any frictional contact between the valve and its seat. The taper is not suiiicient, however, to admit of a lift upon the valve by the pressure of the gas from within the valve-seat, which under the high- 3813 pressure that can occur would not unseat it, and any tendency which an abnormallyhigh pressure might have to expand the valve would at the same time tend to expand the seat and still keep the closure complete. Thus the valve possesses the advantages of the pis ton-valve, in its sliding movement gradually opening the passage for the gas, and yet is free from the frictional resistance the moment it is unseated. As the valve is lifted, the sev eral annular slots in the seat will be brought gradually opposite the annular slots in the valve, so that a lift sufficient to open one of the slots will at the same time open all, thus effecting a full open in g of the valve by a movement which is comparatively slight.

The slots may be so located that they will all begin to be opened at the same moment; but I find it advantageous to so arrange them that one of themthe upper one, for example, as shown in the enlarged view, Fig. 2will begin to be opened slightly in advance of the lower, as this admits of a more delicate control. of the admission of gas to the burner, where a very small quantity is required.

The valve G is provided with openings g in its top, so that there maybe no cushioning of air or gas when it is required to drop suddenly, and also that there may be a free escape for any which presses up between the valve and its seat.

The plate ll, which is preferably about seven-eighths the diameter of the diaphragm (I, is secured to the diaphragm by suitable fastenings, 71/, and a connecting-rod, 71/, secured at its upper end to the plate, projects down through an opening, at, in the bottom of the diaphragm-cliamber, and is coupled at 7L2 to a connecting-rod, 7L", which extends on down through a suitable stuliing-box, l, at the top of the valve-chamber, and is connected at its lower end to the top of the valve.

The rod 7L has a free sliding movement through the opening (1; but the space around it is such that when the diaphragm (Z suddenly falls the air beneath it will be retained long enough to act as a cushion and prevent the valve from forcibly striking its seat.

The diaphragm-chamber is supported upon the valve-chamber by a. suitable standard, K. In the present instance the standard is in the form of a skeleton pipe-section.

The lever L is provided with the sliding weight 7., and serves to hold the valve open against the pressure of the gas on the lowpressure side of the valve as follows:

An elongated link, M, is pivoted at its lower end to a lug, 7r, 011 the standard K, and the lever L is fulcrumed 011 the upper end of the said link. When the parts are in position to hold the valve half open, as shown in Fig. 1, the lever L is intended to be about horizontal, and its rounded end Z resting in engagement with the flat upper wall of the slot 71 in. the rod h, and the link M pitched -slightly past center toward the axis of the connecting-rod h 76, with the upper rounded ends, 111., of the link bearing against the outer faces of the standard K at the sides of the slot 7. through which the lever L extends. The lever L is further provided with a depending arm, N, fixed thereto or formed integral therewith, which curves toward the standard K and extends freely through the link 1, and when the parts are in the positions above described res s with its free end a slight distance away from the wall of the standard, 5 shown.

So long as the pressure of gas normal the lever will retain its engagement with the connecting-rod 71/, and the valve will rise and fall to suit the slight variations in pressure; but the moment the pressure fails, either from a break in the diaphragm or from cutting off the supply, or from any other cause whatsoever, the pressure above the diaphragm will no longer counterbalance the weighted lever L, and the diaphragm will be free to rise. Just as soon as the .end of the lever L has risen enough to give the valve a full opening the free end of the arm N will come in contact with the wall of the standard, and as the end Z of the lever continues to rise the arm N will crowd the lever bodily away from the axis of the comiecting-rods h 71 and will thereby throw the link M past center away from said axis. The moment the link passes center in this direction the weight on the lever and the weight of the lever itself will tend to throw the lever bodily outward, and will release the rounded end Z of the lever from the rod 7z,'and the valve will immediately fall into closed adjustment over the valve-seat, and will so remain until it is again intentionally opened, when the lever may be again engaged with the rod 72 and the valve placed in working order.

The construction, as above set forth, is simple. It elfectually provides against danger from the breaking of a diaphragm and from the many other possible things which might happen to stop the pressure or seriousl reduce it, and at the same time affords a very small amount of wearing-surface and furnishes a very accurate means for regulating the supply.

In a pending application entitled cut-off devices for gas, filed Hay 7,18S8,No.'273,075, I have shown and claimed, in conjunction with other parts, a valve of the same general shape as that herein described, but differing therefrom in. that it has no openings in its side walls corresponding to openings in the seat.

It is evident that slight changes might. be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several. parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention;

hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the construction herein set forth; but,

Having thus full y described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a pressure-regulator, the COlllbillfll' lOll, with a .liaphragm adapted to receive pressure from the pressure-regulator chamber, of a hollow valve-seat slightly tapered from its base to its top, and provided with an opening through its side wall, the valve adapted to fit the exterior wall of the valve-seat, and the valve-operating rod connecting the valve with the diaphragm, whereby the valve is relieved oli' frictional resistance when raised, but is not subject to any c i nsiderable lift from thehigh-pressure side when seated, substantially as set t'orth.

2. In a pressure-regulator, the eombinat ion, with a diaphragm adapted to receivepressure from the pressure-regulator chamber, of a slightly-tapered valve-seat provided with an opening through its side wall, the valve adapted to lit the exterior wall of the valveseat, and provided with an opening in its side wall to register with the opening in the valve-seat when the valve is open, and the valve-operating rod connect-in g the valve with the diaphragm, whereby the valve is relieved of frictional resistance when raised, but is not subject to any considerable lift from the high-pressure side when seated, substantially as set forth.

In a pressure-regulator, the combination, with a diaphragm adapted to receive pressure from the pressnrercgnlator chamber, of a slightly-tapered valvcseatprovided with a. series of annular openings through its wall, the valve adapted to fit the exterior wall of the valve-seat and provided with a series of annular openings adapted to register with the openings in the valve-seat when the valve is open, and the valve-operating rod connect ing the valve with the diaphragm, whereby the valve is relieved of frictional resistance when raised, but is not subject to any considerable lift from the high-pressure side when seated, substantially as set forth.

-fi-. The combination, with a valve under pressure from the gas tending to close the valve, oi a lever havinga detachable connection with the valve and adapted to hold the valve open against the gas-pressure, a movable support tor the lever, and means for moving the said support when the gas-pressurl-a is removed, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a diaphragm subject to gas-pressure from a gas-(1istributing pipe, a valve in connection with said diaphragm, and a lever havin a detachable connection with the connected valve and diaphragm, of a movable support for the lever and means for automatically movin the said support when the gas-pressure is removed, substantially as set forth.

ii. The combination, with the valve, the diaphragm connectedtherewith, and the lever having a detachable connection with the connected valve and diaphragm, of a vibrating support for the lever and means for vibrating the said support as the lever is tilted, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the valve, the diaphragm connected therewith, and the lever havin a detachable connection with the con nected val V0 and diaphragm, of a swing-link forming a support for the lever, and an arm on the lever, whereby the swing-link support is automatically swung past center as the lever is almormally tilted, and the lever thereby detached from the connected valve and diaphragm, substantially as set forth.

In. testimony whereof I have signed this spei' itieation in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

LOUIS B. FULTON.

W itnesses:

E. C. SEWARD, (J. DRURY. 

